By developing the fundamental and practical understanding needed to make informed decisions on fuel switching at scale in high-temperature industrial processes, this project will:

• help industry formulate investment strategies and de-risk technology demonstrations
• provide information to guide the design of new technologies.

The project work program includes:

1. Investigating the impacts of hydrogen on structural materials, under industrially relevant conditions of temperature, pressure and gas composition.
2. Comparing recognised laboratory-scale testing methods to evaluate hydrogen impact on materials with development of a recommended laboratory testing approach to be used in further work.
3. Conducting testing using the recommended method from step 2 on representative alloy groups (low-alloy steels, stainless steels, Inconel and NiCr steels and nickel alloys). Testing will also examine welds of select materials.
4. Providing advice regarding the deployment of the materials, detailing expected performance under specific operating conditions, expected lifetime and damage, and costs of various options.
5. Techno-economic and life cycle analysis of various scenarios comparing retrofitted materials and new designs.

• 2.4 Blending of alternative low-carbon fuels for current industrial processes

• New technology to accommodate multiple energy sources and offer flexibility in switching between them
• New technologies for high-temperature heat
• Assessment of challenges for hydrogen as an alternative fuel in existing processes
• Blending of alternative low-carbon fuels for current high-temperature processes
• High-temperature heat in existing processes
• Biomass, waste and other low carbon fuels, including new combustion technologies

• An improved understanding of the impact of staged replacement of natural gas with hydrogen on materials in high-temperature processes, with a focus on materials compatibility and process performance.
• Insights into the techno-economics of different fuel-switching strategies, with particular consideration given to retrofitting versus new build, that can support industrial demonstration and ongoing research, development and demonstration activities.
• A knowledge database with fully evaluated testing methods for hydrogen embrittlement of a variety of materials under typical industrial process operating conditions.
• Knowledge on possible solutions and mitigation strategies of materials risk in hydrogen environments.

RP2.015 Project Summary – Hydrogen utilisation in industrial applications: Evaluation of impact on materials and infrastructure